Live Report: Balu Brigada brings an electrifying show to The Academy

White lights flash as fuzzy guitar and heavy synth begin to fill the room. The crowd is already buzzing after a 40-minute DJ set by Ryeberry. Taking the stage, brothers Pierre and Henry Beasley break into a thrilling indie-pop song, ‘Golden Gate Girl.’

Hailing from New Zealand, the brothers, who share vocal responsibilities, began releasing music as Balu Brigada in 2016. Just last year, they stopped by 3Arena to open for Twenty One Pilots. Now they are playing their own headline show in support of Portal, their debut album, which was released in August 2025.

Settling into the show, they start ‘Sideways,’ a groovy alt-pop song backed by explosive drums and echoing guitar. Also notable on the backing track is an irresistible, yet unique quack sound made by the squeak of a rubber duck. Henry is met with shrieks as he jumps down into the crowd to play a beautiful guitar riff.

Balu Brigada at The Academy on May 6th, 2026. Copyright Maizy Kharrazian/www.hotpress.com

Switching to their pop roots, it is time for Balu Brigada classics from their 2023 EP, Find A Way. First up, ‘Designer,’ a tune driven by its dark bass rhythm and shimmery guitar. Then they switch to ‘2good.’ The song features talkative verses before lighting up into a euphoric, gritty chorus. The audience proudly screams the lyrics: “You’re too fuckin’ good to me / You’re too fuckin’ good to be true.”

Next up, they rip into a completely transformed cover of the Hall and Oates classic ‘You Make My Dreams (Come True).’ Balu Brigada’s reimagined take was originally created for Australian radio station triple j’s Like A Version. Complete with whiny vocals, synth and a wild electric guitar solo at the end, it is a cinematic, addictive listen and total departure from the 80s hit.

Balu Brigada at The Academy on May 6th, 2026. Copyright Maizy Kharrazian/www.hotpress.com

With a pint of Guinness precariously placed on the stage, Pierre announces that is waiting for the right moment to split the G. Fans will not let him forget the promise, and after countless screams, Pierre has no choice but to grab the glass and give it a go. After a successful attempt and a happy crowd, the band switches the vibe. They play ‘Isolation,’ a devastating and honest track which describes the pain of being separated from the one you love.

Bringing the energy back up, they take the audience on a six-minute journey with ‘Backseat,’ a magical, loopy song. The pit gets moving as the synth and drums build to a textured and experimental ending.

As the evening wraps up, the classic “olé, olé” chant gets the band back on stage for the encore. Taking us back to the early discography, Balu Brigada breaks into a mashup of ‘Find A Way,’ a catchy 2023 release, and ‘Could You Not,’ a light indie track they put out in 2017. Henry closes the night, jumping into the crowd one last time to play his electric guitar. Balu Brigada are in their own lane, and there is no doubt they will continue to explode in the coming months.